Float valve



April 1, 1,941.`

O. F. CARLSCN FLOAT VALVE Filed July 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O. F. CARLSON April 1, 1941.

FLOAT VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fil-ed July 8, A1940 Patented Apr. l, 1941 4i)NI-*P15113"IAs'm'res PATENT OFFICE FLOAT VALVE Oscar F. Carlson, Kenilworth, Ill., assignor of onehalf 'to Oscar F. Carlson Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois; and one-half to Everett N. McDonnell, Chicago, Ill.

Applicatin July 8, 1940, Serial N0. 344,330

y s claims. (61137-104) f The present invention relates to float valves. I

The specific embodiment herein illustrated and described is a float valve suitable for use in supplying waterto a shallow waterevaporating pan, such as is employedfor humidifyingA purposes.

Float valves are old. Eloat valves with snap action mechanism are also old.

The chief dif'dcultywith snap action float valves of the prior art is that in order for the snap action to pass over centerjit requires the valve to move from its seat or the oat to lose its holding power over the valve. This means that the valve tends to leak as the critical level is approached. Such leakage cuts the valve seat or valve face and tends to screen out and deposit impurities, with the result that a valvewhich has once begun such leakage cannot satisfactorily be closed off and may fail to function.

Valves of this type are also subject to not only the severe requirements of positive action without failure, but are required to operate within narrow margins-that is, a relatively slight shift in liquid level-and are subject to fouling with lime and other impurities from the evaporated water. The desideratum for this service is, therefore a valve which will operate positively Within narrow limits of level change, will not fail to func- .tion due to fouling of the parts or such corrosion as is incidental to this use. `The valve should be quiet and free from water hammer, and should not vcreate any noise or disturbance in its operation. i

The device of my present invention embodies the concept of a valve held to its seat by the spring loading of the snap action or detent, and wherein one of the elements of the snap action or detent mechanism is moved relative to the other by the travel of the float without requiring any movement of the valve or relaxation ofthe pressure of the valve upon its seat until'the holding power of vention, the snap'action mechanism is of the hill and roller type whereby, when the crest of thecam o r hill'is passed, the force ofthe spring loading reverses and positively throws fthe valve to open position.

4,0 the snap action mechanism or detent is removed f In the preferred form of the valve herein disclosed, the valve itself is carried on a pivoted or swinging arm which. is snapped to and fro by the reversals of spring loading of the snap mechanism. The arm is connected by suitable interconnections with the pivoted float arm to constitute a compound leverage. Thereby the power of the float acts through the yco-mpound leverage to add itsl v'closing or holding. power to that of the snap mechanism. As a result, an unusually high holdingy power is secured with great simplicity. The compound leverage may also be employed through lost motion to open the valve when the floatdrops vso as-to addthe power of the oat to the snap mechanism in both the closing and opening operations. While the cam is described as having a crest with two lateral surfaces, one of which provides the closing and holding effect, and the other of which provides the opening effect, the latter instead of being an inclined surface, may be merely a fiat surface and dependence put upon either the internal water pressure or the leverage, or both, toinsure opening of the valve.

The valve of my invention provides certain mean horizontal position within a narrow operating angle. The float 4is preferably an elongated hollow body forming an extension of the arm and operating in conjunction with the mean horizontal level, the center of notation, and hence the effective leverage shifts outwardly to give maximum closing power as the float moves downwardly below the mean level.

Similarly, when the valve is in closed position, the float extends at an angle above the horizontal, and its center of notation moves towards the pivot so that as the level 'of the liquid drops the float has maximum power to start the operation of opening due to its weight and the shorter leverage of the flotation power.

Other novel features will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and

claims. i

Figure is a bottom plan view of the float valve'y mechanism of Figure 4. 5

Referring iirst to the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the iioat valve mechanism I0 is disposed in a pan I I which is of shallow depth and may be of any suitable size. The main valve body I2 has a shoulder I2 and a threaded nipple I3` by which the valve body I2 and connected parts are mounted in the vertical wall of the pan. The threaded nipple I3 extends through a holein the vertical wall of the pan at one end of the pan, and the body is clamped to this vertical wall .by the shoulder I2 and the threaded nut 8 with intervening sealing gasket 9 to provide a liquid tight joint. The outer end of the nipple I3 is provided with an internal pipe thread. for receiving the end of the supply pipe 1 through which water under city pressure is supplied to the hollow interior of the valve body I2. The valve body I 2 is preferably made of a casting, and it is drilled ,1

or reamed to provide the central bore. A pair of integral ears I8, I8 at the top'side of the .valve body I2 provide a support for a pivot pinv I 9 upon which is pivotally mounted the valve carrying arm I6.

Likewise at the bottom of the body I2 a pair of projecting ears 23, 23 provide a support for the pivot pin 6 which carries the float arm 2|. The ears I8, I8 and'23, 23 have their outer surfaces lying substantially in a common plane so that the same may be slabbed or ground off to provide nished surfaces. The valve body I2 has an outlet port provided through the tubular stainless steel' seat member I4 which is a short section of tube pressed into a counterbore formed in the top wall of the body member I2. The valve seat member I4 communicates with an openingthrough the side wall of the body I2 so that liquid may be discharged through the hole or port in the seat member I4 when the same is uncovered.

The valve member or valve proper which cooperates with the ports in the seat member I4 to close and open the same is carried by the pivoted lever I6. This lever I6 is preferably formed of a sheet metal stamping having the two side arms |6a., IGa carrying at their outer free ends the pivot pin 21 for the spring-pressed pivoted detent member 26. At their rear ends the arms |6a are pivoted on the pivot pin I9. The two arms IGa, IIa are jointed by an integral web portion ISb which forms a roof or closure over the space within which the discharge of water from the valve ports is caused to occur. The top web |617 has a downwardly projecting skirt ISc lying between the arms IGa at the right hand end as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, and likewise a depending skirt IGd at the rear or left as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thereby to form with the lside arms vIIa an inverted box. The top wall or web vII'b of the lever I6 is perforated toureceive"prongs projecting' up 'from the'e'd'ge of the`"'sheet"irital bracket member I1. These prongs are bent over or clinched to hold the box-like bracket member I1 rigidly on the arm I6. The valve face I5 is preferably formed of a semi-yielding material such as lead, and it is carried between the bottom of the bracket I1 and a retainer ring |1a which is held in place to the body of the bracket I1 by integral ears |1b projecting through the side walls of the said bracket member I1. Thus the lead valve face I5 is conned and firmly joined through the bracket I1 to the arm I6.

rIhe swinging or pivoted detent 26 is disposed preferably midway between the arms I6a of the lever I6, and it is held in thiscentral position between two projecting portions |66, |6e integral with and formed as ears on the adjacent arms Ia. The detent arm 26 has a projecting portion 26a which lies between the ears IBe, |6e and is thereby centered. A spring 30 which has a central loop extending over the detent arm 26 as indicated at 30a in Figure 1 hasr two coiled portions on each side, and the ends of the coiled portions are anchored against the ears |6e, |6e whereby the spring 30 urges the arm 26 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

The detent lever 2-6 has at its lower end a cam 28 comprising two inclined edges 28a and 28o which meet at a crest or point at an obtuse angle. This cam cooperates with a roller 29 carried on a pin 29a. This pin is supported on the iioat lever -2|. The float lever 2| comprises the two side arms 2 Ia, 2Ia joined by two integral web portions 2lb and 2|c. The lever with the integral web portions is stamped out of a piece of sheet metal. The web 2lb has a slot 2|d therethrough, and the detent arm 26 has its lower end projecting through this slot. In order to reduce the contact between the side of the slot and the side of the lever 2B to a minimum, rounded projections 2 Iek on the side of the slot provide guidance for the arm 26 with 4minimum friction.

Ears 2|f, 2|f are bent up from the edge of the web 2lb` to hold the stainless steel roller 29 against sidewise displacement so `that iii will always ride on the 'cam faces 28a, 2811. The thickened web portion 2|c connecting the lever 'arms 2 Ia, 2Ia has an upwardly'extending shackle portion 3| with'a slot -32 therein. The valve body E| 2 has an integral projection or pin 33 projecting into the slot -32, and the shackle 4'3| thereby limits 'the travel 'of the oat arm 2| about its pivot 6. The float 20 is provided with a bracket member Yof sheet metal vhaving arms 20a, 20a at top and bottom soldered tothe float body 20 and having a vertical lslide 20h which, in effect, is V-'shaped at/.eachedge to cooperate with the V-shapedtjaws '2|g, I2|g `formed on the outer ends of the arms 2Ia, 2| a. These jaws are adapted to engage the edgesfo'f thevertical slide vportion 20h, 20o, being pressed thereagainst "by lthe vthumb vscrew 22 and lnut 22a. Thus, by'relea'sing the thumb screw 22, the iioat 20 may be slid up or down in the jaws j2|g, 2| g and vthenclamped inan'y suitable position. `This adjustment .permits 'the oat to be set at a higher or vvlower position relativeto the arm 2|, the vm'o'tion of Aadjustment is a motion of translation,"transverse tothe 'arm 2|.

The iioat is adapted 'to play on either'side 'of a 'mean horizontal position under 'the influence of raising and lowering'water level.

The-parts' thus fardescrbed provide the necessary operatingmembers for opening and closing the iioat control valve. However,`I have provided additioiiahparts "connecting the 'iloat lever "2| with the valve lever |6 for the purpose iirs'tf limiting the ltravel of the valve arm I6 relativev tothe oat arm, and, second, for transmitting the thrust of the arm 2| due to the lioat 20 or to the cam 28 and roller 29 to the valve carrying arm I6.

The means which performs thisfunction is as follows. The iioat lever 2| has projections 24, 24 on the arms 2Ia, 2Ia, adjacent the pivot pin 6 thus forming in eect short lever arms. These projections 24, 24 bear against the ends of the arms '25a which are connected to the valve carrying lever I6. The arms a are the sides of a U-shaped member 25 which is pivoted on the pivotpin- I9 which is also the pivot pin of the valve carryingarm I 6. This U shaped member overlies the top of the valve arm I6 and is connected to the valve arm I6 through a cam 25 and slot 25h. By-rotating the cam 26 which is an eccentrically mounted pin mounted in the upper wall IIb of the lever I6, the angular position of the arms 25a with respect to the position of the valve carrying lever IB may be adjusted. By this adjustment the upper eXtreme position of arm 2| may be set. That is to say, when the valve is on seat the arm I6 has a definite position. `Now by adjustingl the cam 26 the arms 25a may be swung about the pivot I9 in the desired direc- Ition. ySincethe engagement of the short arm 24 with the arm 25a limits the upper position of the float arm 2| and since the float 2I3`may be adjusted relative to the float arm, it can be seen that the float may thus be caused to play on adjustment of the cam 25 which regulates the either side of a mean position, which mean position is a horizontal position of the float arm 2| for all water levels'selected. While the float 2i? is shown as a short cylinder with axis vertical, I nd it preferable where possible to employ a long cylinder with the axis horizontal, as disclosed in Figure 4.

The operation of the device thus far described is as follows. Assuming that the pan is set approximately horizontal, and that; city water is connected through pipe 'I, the pan being empty the float 20 will drop down to the point where the roller 29 rides on the lower inclined cam surface 28h. The upward thrust of this inclined cam surface under the iniluence of the spring 30 forces the arm I5 upwardly lifting the valve I5`oi` of the valve seat I4. Likewise entering water pressure tends to drive the valve away from the seat. The lever I6 cannot swing counterclockwise any further than is permitted by the engagement of the arms 25a with the short arms 24 of the float lever 2|. Preferably, the shackle 3| prevents the float 29 from dropping against the bottom of i the pan.

As the water level rises the float gains buoyancy, and then gradually carries the arm 2| upwardly, carrying the roller 29 past the crest of the cam 23. It will be observed that the lever I6 is swung in clockwise direction by the rotation of the lever 2| in counterclockwise direction of rotation through the interengagement of the arms 24 and 25a. Thus by the combined action Aof rising of the roller 29 through the counterclockwise direction of angular motion of the lever 2| and the downward travel of the detent arm 26 to the clockwise rotation of the lever I6, the cam and the roller are moved relative to each other past the crest of the cam and the inclined surface 28a engaging the roller 29, snaps the valve I5 against its seat I4.

' The adjustment of the parts is such that the` spring urged cam and roller resist closing movemen-t, causing the float to ride lower in the liquid roller passes the crestv of the cam the direction of pressure of the spring 3l]` is reversed and it tends to lift-the float at the same time that Vthe valve is snapped to itsV seat. The valve carrying lever I6 may move downward faster than the iioat and its float arm can move upwardly because of the relative inertia of the pants. This is permitted because `of the lost motion possible between the arms 25a and the arms 24.

' The-mean position ofthe float arm -2I is horizontal, and on theclosed position of the valve the float arm 2| is thrown slightly above horizontal, whereas whenv the-valve is open it is thrown below horizontal. L'Tlie upper angular position of the float arm 2| is controlled by the angularity between the-lever I 6 and the arms 25a. The float, it will be observed, applies its flotation power through the lever and through the arms 24, 25a toforce the valve carrying lever to apply the valve I5 against the seat' I4. In commercial forms Vof valves which I have constructed, the cam and follower mechanism operating through the levers 2|, 24, 25a and II` will hold the valve against its seat for internal pressure of pounds without any assistance fromthe iioat. With the flotation power of the The box-like hoodwithin which the Valve I5 is carried prevents spraying of the liquid'out of the pan when the valve is open.

The linkage herein shown is unique, in that motion between the cam andfollower, as by rising or falling ofthe float 20, 4does not require' movement of the valve with respect to its seat until the critical point is reached vwhere thev roller passes the crest-of the cam. y'The roller is made of small diameter -to make the neutral or crest position as sharp as possible'consistent with satisfactory operation. The cam is preferably made of av non-corroding material, such as phosphor bronze, to cooperate with the stainless steel roller so that corrosion is substantially avoided. Assuming, for example, that the. water level slowly allows the oat to drop from the position shown in Figure 1,'the lever 2| may move downwardly, thereby losing contact between the arms 25a. of the lever I6 and the arm 24 of the lever 2|, but the valve is still held to its seat by the inclined surface 28a of the cam acting on the roller. .This causes the float to ride upwardly somewhat, and holds the Valve I5 shut. As soon, however, as this travel has proceeded where the roller passes the crest of the cam or comes to the crest of the cam, the float 29, losing the retarding force tends to drop causing the roller rapidly to pass over the crest of the cam, and then the reverse inclined cam surface 28h forces the two levers I6 and 2| apart. Not only does the flotation power of the iioat 20, which has been recited, carry the roller past the crest of the cam, but the internal pressure of liquid acting on the Valve` I5 likewise tends to raise the valve I5 so that there never is any time when the rollercan stop on the crest.

to develop its flotation power, but as soon as they However, it is to be observed that so long as the cam has the holding 'power on the roller 20 through the cam surface 280 the downward drag of the float 20 operates through the-swinging cam lever 26 as a tension member to pull the outer end of the lever I6 downwardly, thereby assisting in holding the valve i4 to its seat.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a modification of the valve in which the position of the cam and roller on the levers l5 and 2l is reversed. By this reversal of parts the cam surfaces and the roller are preferably brought above the water level in the tank. The specific form of the valve shown in the embodiment of Figure 4 comprises a bell-shaped holder I1 in the bottom of which is disposed the left face engaging the seat I4. The flaring annular space between the nipple which forms the seat of the valve acts not only to direct the water downwardly but also provides a throttling effect as the valve face approaches the seat. In this embodiment the float lever 2l is provided with the two projecting arms 24 and 24a lying on opposite sides of the cooperating arm 25a of the U-shaped lever 25. .The arms 25a have lost motion or play between the arms 24 and 24a, to permit operation without binding. The arm 24a insures that the lever I6 will be raised when the float 2.0 drops. Adjustment of the U-shaped arm forming an extension of the valve carrying lever IE by the cam 26 is provided in this form for the same purpose and in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

The float is a cylindrical elongated body. Since the mean position of the float arm 2| is horizontal, and the play is on either side of the horizontal, it can be seen that when the valve is in the closedposition as shown in Figure 4, the heel of the float, that is the left hand end as viewed in Figure 4, is submerged more deeply than the toe because of the angularity. When the valve is opened and the oat has swung down the outer or toe end of the float is more deeply submerged, and hencethe effective of the center of flotation is greater `for the closing movement to start the cam over the roller. Thus the float at each extreme position is conditioned to be most effective to start the return movement.

The float is adjustable transversely of the float arm 2| by the side 20h guided between the jaws 2Ig, 2Ig. The slide member 2Gb has lugs 49, 49 struck out of the body of the same, these lugs overlying the clamping bolt 22 so that the float may not accidentally slip out of the jaws 2 I g, 2 Ig. The effective range of adjustment is therefore between these lugs or ears 20c, 2Uc.

By the combination herein disclosed a very effective snap action for a lever control is provided. This is particularly applicable to oat control valves but need not be confined to that particular application.

I do not intend to be limited to the details as shown and described except as they are decided as essential parts of the following claims, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A oat valve comprising, in combination, a valve body, a float, a bell crank lever having the float associated with one arm, an inlet port in said valve body, a. second bell crank lever, a valve member for closing said inlet port carried by Aone arm of said second lever, an arm of the oat lever engaging the other -arm vof 'saidV second lever and rotating the same in valve closing direction, a

cam arm carrying a cam member and a follower member adapted to engage said cam member carried by the respective bell crank levers, and spring means biasing said cam arm against said follower member.

2. A mechanical movement for snap operation of an actuatable device comprising a first bell crank lever having a xed pivot and having a long actuating arm and a short arm, a second bell crank lever having a fixed pivot parallel to the rst pivot and having a long arm substantially parallel to the long arm of the first lever and a short arm adapted to be actuated by the short arm of the first lever, the long arm of the second lever being connected to an actuatable device, and spring actuated hill cam and follower snap action linkage between the long arms.

3. In combination, a first lever movable on a fixed pivot having a long actuating arm and a short arm, a second lever movable on a pivot parallel tothe first pivot and having al long arm lying adjacent the long arm of the first lever and a short arm connected to the short arm of the iirst lever, whereby motion of the long actuating arm in one direction of rotation produces a motion of the other lever in the opposite direction of rotation, a device to be actuated, said device having a stationary member and a cooperating movable member, the movable member being actuated by motion of the long arm of the second lever, and a spring biased hill cam and follower snap action linkage connected between said lo-ng arms.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a valve body having a valve port, a bell crank lever pivoted on said body having a substantially horizontal arm and a substantially vertical arm, a valve for cooperation with said port carried by the horizontal arm, and a substantially horizontal float lever pivoted on said body and bearing at its outer end a float, said float lever having a coupling adjacent its pivot with the vertical arm of the .bell crank lever whereby upward movement of said float causes ldownward movement of said bell crank lever biasing said valve against said port.

5. The combination of claim 4 with means for adjusting the angularity of the arms of the bell crank lever relative to each other, and a. slidable adjustment for adjusting the level of the float with respect to the level of the float lever by a. motion of translation of the float relative to the lever.

6. In `combination a valve body having an upwardly facing valve seat, a valve carrying lever comprising a pair of spaced arms pivoted on the body and adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally, a horizontal web between the upper edges of said arms and depending skirt portions lying between the arms to define a downwardly opening hood, and a valve member carried by said web Within the hood.

7. In combination, for use with a shallow pan for fluid, a horizontally extending valve body having an upwa-rdly facing port, a lift valve c0- operating lwith said port, a float lever pivoted o-n the lower side of the valve 'body having a substantially horizontal arm carrying a float, a Valve lever pivoted on the upper side of the valve body and having a, substantially horizontal arm` carrying said valve overlying the aforesaid arm of the float carrying arm, a spring actuated cam and follower actuating mechanism for snapping the said'arms toward andaway .from'each other,

one of said arms bearing the cam and the other of said arms carrying the follower, and a positive actuating connection between said levers independent of said spring actuated cam and follower actuating mechanism for positively forcing the valve against its seat by rise of the oat, said valve body having a horizontal stud portion adapted to extend through a wall of said pan above the liquid level therein.

8. In combination, a valve -body having a discharge port for liquid, a valve for closing and opening said port, a bell crank float lever pivoted on the body, said lever having a horizontally extending oat arm, a oat on said arm, a bell crank valve lever pivoted on said body, said valve lever having a horizontally extending valve arm for actuating said valve, a detent member mounted on one of said horizontal arms, a cam member carried on the other of said horizontal arms and having a vertically extending cam arm bear.. ing a hill shaped cam for cooperating with said follower, and a positive motion transmitting linkage between said horizontal levers whereby rise of the oat positively closes the valve over said port, said linkage comprising vertically extending arms of said bell crank levers.

OSCAR F. CARLSON. 

